Solutions that don’t break the bank, reinvent the wheel or marginalize our teachers are within our grasp. We could have rigorous classes, safe and disciplined schools and treat teachers like valued colleagues rather than easily replaceable cogs, and we could do so tomorrow if we wanted. Disclaimer, this is an opinion and commentary site and should not be confused as a news site. Also know that quite often people may disagree with the opinions posted.

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Friday, January 9, 2015

Florida falls to 28th in school rankings, we never should have been ranked very high anyways.

and the truth is we never should have been anywhere
close to the top ten. Now this is not to say we have terrible teachers and
schools, this is to say that the previous year’s rankings always had a lot more to
do with things that were on the peripheral of education. Like we would get tons
of points for just giving assessments, who cares if they were valid or sucking
the life out of education, they heaped points upon us anyways. The new rankings
recognize the quality of our teachers as past rankings have but also recognize
the value that the powers-that-be put on education, which quite frankly isn’t
that much.

Jacksonville Superintendent Vitti summed it up nicely in the Times
Union: “Although it is true that we are
likely to have one of the highest returns on investment in the country, imagine
how much stronger our students would perform if the policy commitments were
maintained and balanced with an increase in per pupil funding,” he said.
“Fiftieth is completely unacceptable. We can, and must, do better.”

Why do we
need to pay our teachers more we’re ranked fifth. Or, why should we pay our
teachers more we’re ranked 25th.

Florida has
some wonderful teachers but they can only do so much especially when constantly
marginalized, disrespected and blamed and as long as we either ignore poverty
or treat it like an excuse we shouldn’t really expect much more than treading
water.